The Witch and the Huntress

by Luna McNamara

Two of Greek mythology’s most complex and powerful women—Medea and Atalanta—join forces on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece in this suspenseful, sapphic reimagining from the acclaimed author of Psyche and Eros.

Medea possesses both witchcraft and cunning, yet she endures a lonely and constrained life under the rule of her wicked father, Aeetes. When the hero Jason arrives, they strike a deal: If Medea helps him win her father’s Golden Fleece, Jason will marry her and take her with him back to Greece. But as the journey unfolds, Medea is forced to choose between the life she expected and the love she secretly desires—and the cost may be greater than she ever imagined.

Atalanta, raised by bears, is a capable warrior caught between the wilderness and the human world but never fully part of either. After the sudden disappearance of the woman she loves, Atalanta joins Jason’s Argonauts in an attempt to find her. But when Medea becomes part of the crew, the sorceress awakens something in Atalanta that she cannot ignore.

Jason, a skilled diplomat but a reluctant warrior, depends on his heroic companions to help him claim the Golden Fleece and retake the stolen throne of his father. Medea and Atalanta are among his most useful allies, but Jason soon finds that success may demand more than he can give.

Bursting with mythological references and cameos, Luna McNamara’s The Witch and the Huntress is a daring, enchanting story about two singular women in search of love, power, and redemption, set against a backdrop of epic quests and meddling gods.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Retellings, Lesbian, Greek Mythology, Queer, Adult

432 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 21, 2026

Reviews

[Kate LaMont]

i literally said in the last medea retelling i read that i wanted her and atlanta to be lesbians together... like i manifested this book...

[Sarah Seltzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this sapphic reimagining of the stories of Medea, Jason, and Atalanta, the author brings us a beautiful tale of adventure, love, loss, and survival by any means necessary. Most stories of Medea and Jason tell a tale of a woman scorned who murders her own children in an effort to make the man who wronged her suffer. In this telling, Medea is a lonely princess seeking to do whatever she can to take her fate into her own hands. This story dives deeper into the lives of women who only want to be in charge of their own destinies and the men who think the right to decide is theirs alone.

McNamara has done a beautiful job weaving this tale from 3 different angles, those of our 3 heroes. Greek mythology is full of tragedy, but this retelling also brings about the hope for a brighter future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answers the question "What if Chappell Roan penned a Greek myth retelling?"

With munchable prose and intriguingly complicated characters, McNamara phenomenally weaves together a number of related but distinct existing fragments of myth into one cohesive, expansive storyline following the story of the hunt for the Golden Fleece (and its bloody aftermath), with a delightfully sapphic bent.

Contains within:
~ Gaslight gatestorm grudgewife
~ Murders murders murders
~ Bear Mom
~ a cool boat
~ "wow the gods are pretty shitty, huh"
~ Chaotic bisexual historically done dirty by Big Corinthian™️
~ Tall hot lady who lives in a cave
~ nonbinary cutie with an apple
~ Mommy AND Daddy Issues
~ a Nice Guy™️ (derogatory)

Atalanta, girl, CALL ME.

[rachel x]

"Two of Greek mythology’s most complex and powerful women—Medea and Atalanta—join forces on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece in this suspenseful, sapphic reimagining"

say less, i'm sold

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher:

I’m always up for a good Greek retelling, and this one is well done. The worldbuilding and character work were strong and clearly well researched. I’d assumed the story would focus on the Argo and the quest for the Golden Fleece, but the final third expanded into a full life span epilogue. It eventually paid off, but I do think the book tried to take on too much. Greek mythology is so rich that you really have to pick and choose what to include.

The narrative structure felt a little unexpected. Most of the book is told in a first-person, past-tense frame from both of the protagonists, which worked well and grounded the mythic tone. However, it occasionally shifted to third-person, present-tense scenes with Jason. His POV (and in a different tense) didn’t feel strictly necessary, and the difference in tense made them stand out in a distracting way.

The retelling itself was memorable and unique. If you like mythic epics this one’s worth picking up.

[b · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up stowing away the sole book on greek mythology in my library under the shelf so no one would check it out in between my library visits, I am very particular about my mythology retellings. Yet, I am a simple enough reader that I saw sapphic, I requested the ARC.

First, the positives. This book reimagined mythology yet stayed true to the original myths, expanding on the relationship of Atalanta and Medea as they navigate their way onto the Argo and beyond. It did so with respect for both women and their existing stories, yet was able to operate as it's own narrative within the bounds of existing mythology. For the most part it avoided falling into the trap of some retellings, where modern morals are projected into antiquity, though it was not perfect in that regard.

I think the perspective, while the switches in point of view could be jarring, served to further the story as we follow Medea, Atalanta, and Jason. It ultimately humanized the three and took them off the pedestal of time, and the world was clearly thought through.

Melanion stood out in a cast of otherwise 'meh' side characters, and I wish others were given the same vibrancy in the limited page time as they are the first side character to truly feel like a character rather than a prop designed to go through the motions. Atalanta is said to love Meleager and her son yet it rarely came across and both seemed rather discarded once they served their narrative purpose.

Overall, I felt as if their were a divide between what the book wanted me to feel and what I actually felt, as if the raw emotion had been filed off. It is technically good, but is not gut-wrenching in it's tragedy and I assume it will be ultimately forgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

The Witch and the Huntress is a sapphic retelling of The Argonautika and Medea, specifically following Jason, Medea, and Atalanta.

As a sapphic lover of history and scholar of The Argonautika (I wrote my undergrad capstone and a few essays on Apollonios' version of the epic), I was particularly excited for this book, even though I haven't read many retellings of this story that I've enjoyed. But this one worked very well, especially in how it made Medea firmly her own person with her own desires, while still tying her very closely to Jason at the start, like she is in the original tale. I also have to say this is the best version of Jason I've ever seen in a retelling as it keeps his boyish insecurity and his reluctant, but persistent leadership of the Argonauts while balancing his desire for what's right and what he thinks he deserves. His shift in the second half also is wonderfully done, mirroring Medea's own growth as they finally take their destinies in their own hands, to much different effect.

I did find the writing style a bit strangely formal and as much as I loved this version of Jason, I wasn’t sure how his perspective was important to the plot. But I loved the story and how compelling Medea and Atalanta's relationship was, which made it easy to over look any issues I had.

Thank you again to William Morrow and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

[melissa]

DNF @ 34%

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc of this book!

I'm really upset that this ended up being a DNF for me. I was drawn in by the synopsis and it being a sapphic retelling of Medea's story, since I remember Medea being one of my favorite figures of Greek Mythology when we read a handful of Greek plays in high school. But this book just didn't click. I'm not sure if it was the pacing or if, honestly, retellings aren't my thing. I think if you DO enjoy retellings (especially if they're made queer), you should definitely check this book out. I'm also not a fan of mid-chapter POV switches (which is completely a me thing) and the fact that Jason's point of view is in first person and present tense, and both Medea's and Atalanta's point of views are in third person and past tense, threw me a bit when the mid-chapter POV switches happened between Jason and one of the female leads.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look not to brag (100% bragging) but I got to read an early draft of this novel and it was bomb as fuck. I kept asking myself, "gaaaaay?" about two of the characters and then when I was proved right I kept chanting "Gay! Gay! Gay! Gay!" in my head so I love that in its final form it's officially a sapphic retelling.

I deeply enjoyed the earlier draft and I’m doubly excited to read the upcoming published version. Reading a beloved book for the first time, twice is such a treat. Luna brings these characters to life in such a tangible way that despite their ancient settings, they feel real and relatable even as they experience things the likes of which we can only dream (or nightmare) about.

[Meishuu]

Inject into my veins all the sapphic reimaginings (keyword reimaginings, this is not looking to be accurate, obviously)

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

“The Witch and the Huntress” gave me yearning, tears, and moments where I could not stop kicking my feet. More importantly (to me), it gave me much more than a love story.

In this sapphic retelling of the quest for the Golden Fleece, we follow Medea, along with Atalanta and Jason, in their transformative journeys that reach far before and after their time in the Argo ship.

There are many things I loved about this book. Firstly, Greek mythology really shines in this story. Everyone that knows the myths will enjoy the specificity in this book, while also getting surprised by a few changes that, rather than opposing the canon, reshape it in an intelligent way that aligns with McNamara’s characters and story without it seeming convenient for the plot.

Another part that shines is the characters. They are deep and realistic, and the way in which they develop can be easily traced through the story and also surprise the reader the moment certain things get revealed. I did not like certain characters, but that never pushed me away from the story because of how well-written they were. Disliking those characters actually felt like the appropriate feeling to have according to what I picked up from the way in which they were written. At the end of the day, I enjoyed the three perspectives that we got and the different narrative devices to tell each one.

On the other hand, there were certain parts of the story that felt somewhat episodic. I believe this is due to what is known about Greek mythology—one can only explore a myth so far without knowing the events surrounding it. But it did make it hard for me to keep reading at certain points because whenever I felt I was starting to follow along, there would be a time jump and I would have to start figuring out where we were all over again. Admittedly, these parts of the book were not at all the majority of the story, and they did not interfere with my enjoyment, just with my connection to the story. My first example of this is the prologue. I don’t really understand why there was a prologue. I liked that we got to meet both main characters in it, but it seemed detached from their thoughts and feelings, especially compared to how deep they appear in the rest of the book. This prologue did not feel like a different tone than the first chapter either, and it just did not add anything to my understanding of the plot or characters, since the moment narrated in it is much more profoundly explored in the actual story later on.

Overall, though, “The Witch and the Huntress” by Luna McNamara was a great read, and I recommend it to anyone who loves sapphics and Greek mythology.

Thank you to Luna McNamara, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its release.

[Siavahda · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

In fairness to this book, I should never have picked it up – I mixed up the authors and thought this was by someone else, an author whose writing I really like. If I’d realised it was not by that author I wouldn’t have requested it on Netgalley.

The premise is marvellous – Medea and Atalanta! But immediately, McNamara starts beating the reader around the head with telling-telling-telling, info-dumping absolutely everything. And what there is to tell is just not that interesting: here, Medea is the daughter of Hekate, which had me super interested until the reveal a few seconds later that in this verse, Hekate…started out mortal. (Or was a mortal who ‘joined with something greater’. Because timey-wimey hand-wavey nonsense.) I deeply dislike this, for aesthetic and worldbuilding reasons. Way worse, however, is that Hekate comes to Medea in a dream to say that if Medea ‘lives a life worth immortalizing’ Hekate will make her a goddess too. This transforms Medea into a desperate, flaily creature who is frantic for her mother’s approval, but with no idea what Hekate will consider a life worth immortalizing. Turn one of the most powerful, badass, competent women in mythology into a crybaby with mommy issues? Thanks, I hate it.

Remember I said it was info-dumpy? It’s almost funny, because McNamara info-dumps in-story too: Medea learns witchcraft by…Hekate just dumping all witchcraft-knowledge into her head. In one go. I had to put the book down and just stare at the ceiling for a little bit, because wow. Really??? That’s taking info-dumping to a whole new level. I can’t even.

The writing is super rushed, what’s being written is super boring, and the writing rhythm is a mess, jerky and discordant. The worldbuilding is a fishing net, more hole than structure. There’s so much hand-waving. I didn’t even last until Atalanta appeared, the book was so obviously a waste of time long before that.

Not least because – as I’ve said before and will no doubt say again! – I am so sick and tired of people picking up these scary, complicated, villainous or semi-villainous women from mythology, and completely declawing them. Why do you even want to engage with someone like Medea if you don’t want her to be monstrous? At that point, make up your own OC, nothing’s stopping you! But if you’re going to write about Medea, then give me Medea, not your woobie fanfic version of her.

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took a while for me to get into this book. I will say, I am not as familiar with Greek Mythology, so that could definitely be a factor in the length of time it took for me to feel like the story was picking up.

But after it started to pick up, it was really great. There was much to learn about love and what we think of it. The writing was almost poetic. There are going to be spoilers in this review from here on out, so if you don’t want to read those, stop here…

While I love the story and I do think what happened to Atalanta was an important part of the story and lesson that both women needed to learn, I’m so sick and tired of the “bury your gays trope”. While they had some time together to be happy with each other, Atalanta still died. They had mere months together when they could’ve had the rest of their lives. They could’ve raised the child together. At the very end, it was a happy ending, yes. Atalanta was waiting for Medea in the underworld but can we not have a happy life together too? This is a retelling and the way that Medea’s twins died was different than the original story from what I’ve read. Like I said, I don’t know the ends and outs of the original story, but I wish that the women could’ve lived happily together. All the time in retellings, or even just stories about women loving each other and having the obstacle of a husband, one woman chooses the man. I hate this. I’m annoyed by this. Why do queer women have to have such a tragic life before finding happiness? I am not taking anything off the rating due to my feelings on the “bury your gays trope” but I did feel the need to express myself about it.

That being said, I loved Medea and Atalanta. Jason can go fall down a hole and I feel like the different POV from the women might have been purposeful, or I am at least telling myself that. A way the author could’ve signified his less importance. The love story between the two women was beautiful nonetheless.

3.75 ⭐️

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Greek mythology, in a more in-depth way than I can sufficiently put into actual words... without sounding like an utter lunatic that is. Add in sapphic romance?
Well, I am most definitely interested now.
While Greek mythology has a tendency to be known for all things tragic, depressing... and well, let's just say all things that you probably don't ever want to experience in real life and more.... And where more than one notably powerful woman is tossed to the sidelines in favor of showing off a man's capability instead.
Luna McNamara has done an absolutely stunning job of taking the three original myths of Medea, Jason, and Atalanta... taking those important mythological elements and essential parts of each story... and balling it into the masterpiece that is The Witch and the Huntress. Gone is the oh-so-common focus on the glories and might of men, Luna has brought a beautifully refreshing tale focusing more on the feats of women in mythological tales, without taking away the original elements to the point where it just focuses on the women instead.
This brings a beautiful balance of the scales, and a new light to mythology that I view as truly beautiful... (Past versions have glorified Jason...or paint Medea as some form of ultimate villain... or otherwise have women act in disgraceful ways take revenge on men....) and one that makes The Witch and the Huntress that much more desirable to read. The three different angles, the themes of love, of loss, of adventure, and of hope... of promise for a better future....
If you are a lover of all things Greek Mythology, The Witch and the Huntress will leave you wanting more after you have long finished its pages.

Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute whirlwind. This book sends our heroes all over the ancient Greek world slaying beastly creatures and even beastlier men, but I think that at its heart, this is a story about love and all the forms it can take. Every detail of this world was fascinating, and it was beautifully accentuated by the author’s writing style; it really felt like reading a myth or ancient poem.

This story truly revolves around Medea, daughter of Hekate and princess of Colchis, but we also get to see parts of it told by Atalanta and Jason. Medea has been blessed by her mother with the gift of witchcraft. She’s held hostage by her father’s iron grip, and when Jason and his Argonauts show up seeking the Golden Fleece, she sees her ticket to freedom. As she joins their journey across kingdoms and seas, she’s increasingly drawn to the warrior Atalanta, raised in the wilderness and hesitant to trust human companionship. Throughout their legendary journey and their less legendary lives afterwards, Medea and Atalanta are drawn together over and over again. This gorgeous book tells the story of so many different kinds of loves and losses, and paints a gorgeous portrait of how they shape a person over a lifetime. Additionally, I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representations woven into the story in ways that felt natural, even crucial to the narrative.

The only thing that threw me off a little bit was the differences in narration. Atalanta and Medea’s POVs are first person, past tense, while Jason’s is third person, present tense. I can see the purpose behind separating him from the primary protagonists, but it made some of the transitions between narrators a little jarring.

My sincere thanks to William Morrow and Luna McNamara for providing this ebook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
4.75 stars

[Read.With.Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧙🏻‍♀️🏹 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 🏹🧙🏻‍♀️

One of the reasons I’m so drawn to feminist mythological retellings is that so often the women whose names get remembered are cast in a negative light or meet untimely ends meant to serve as cautionary lessons. These retellings give them the chance to tell their own story, or, if you prefer, the real one.

That’s very much the case with Medea and the heroine Atalanta in The Witch and the Huntress by Luna McNamara, which reimagines the world of Jason and the Argonauts through their eyes. Throw in a little sapphic romance and it gives this story a heart that is rarely found in the original myths.

Told from alternating perspectives, this retelling gives voice not only to Medea and Atalanta, but to Jason himself, giving readers the opportunity to understand their dreams, hopes, and fears in their own words. I thought McNamara did an incredible job managing all three perspectives and making the characters feel distinct and well rounded in both voice and growth. At least with the women. Sorry, Jason. 😬

What really made this story stand out, beyond the super cute romance, is that McNamara doesn’t omit or sugarcoat the so-called “evil” deeds of Medea or the flaws Atalanta carries. Instead, she includes them and uses them as points of growth, showing that even at our worst there is still the possibility for redemption, especially when there is the will to change and, hopefully, love too.

Overall, The Witch and the Huntress was a fun, sweet read. There were one or two pacing issues and at times it did feel a little long, but like most journeys, it was worth it in the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: April 21, 2026

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[wynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous sapphic retelling of Medea and Atalanta, before and beyond their journey with the Argonauts. The prose and world building in this novel were just fantastic. The focus on Medea and Atalanta’s relationship, even beyond the romantic, was beautiful. Watching Jason go from what seemed to be a shy, well-mannered boy who dreamed of filling his father’s shoes, into yet another upholder (and victim) of the patriarchy was incredible. Medea’s struggle with who she is and who she thinks she must be to have what she wants is heart-breaking. I love that she is still morally-grey, like in myth, and not stripped of all wrong-doing or occasional cruelty, and the fact that both she and Jason are not perfect, both of them victims of ther upbringing and perpetuators of violence, even if for different reasons. I could rave about every detail I loved, but that would take far too long, and I think it’d be better if you read the novel yourself and discovered all these intricacies on your own.

As for the problems I had, they are few, but the cast was so large I barely remembered more than 10 of the character’s names, as someone who has, generally, very little interest in Greek mythology. I do also wish that the author had allowed the reader to realize on our own what she meant at times, instead of always blatantly explaining what she meant, as it made some sections feel a little juvenile for an adult novel, but the story was a joy to read nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for access to an eARC.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Witch and the Huntress is about Medea and Atalanta, women from Greek Mythology, primarily from the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and the hunt for the Golden Fleece. The story is told from multiple perspectives, of Medea, Atalanta, and Jason as well, and the story begins before their paths converge on the quest for the Golden Fleece.
I decided to rate this one three stars, because it just felt like it was doing too much with the various events, but also not enough at the same time. We follow along as Jason and the Argonauts, with Medea and Atalanta included, move from one catastrophic event to another, bumbling along and encountering dangers as they return the Golden Fleece to Jason's home kingdom. But none of these events are really rendered on the page in a way that makes them feel real and life threatening. In addition, Medea and Atalanta are presented as being in love with each other, pining away when life and other obligations keep them apart, but it never really felt believable to me. Again, there was a lack of description with no real development of their relationship to explain why they are in love with each other, they both just realize separately that they have feelings and that's that.
Overall, I just felt like the ideas were half developed and I was never really invested in their relationship at all.
Thank you to William Morrow, BookClubGirl, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author and won't be my last.

The Witch and the Huntress is a beautifully written, myth-inspired story told through three different points of view: Jason, leader of the Argonauts; Medea, a witch and daughter of Hekate; and Atalanta, who was raised by bears. Split into four parts, the book explores love, loss, and sacrifice with a strong emotional core and vivid imagery.

The story includes clear LGBTQ+ representation, with Melanion (they/them) standing out as a caring, compassionate presence amid more traditionally masculine characters. Along with the relationships. Despite having three central figures, a wide cast of mythological and original characters is introduced throughout the journey, making the world feel expansive and layered. While there are moments of warmth and lightness, the tone leans toward struggle and endurance. The writing is deeply visual, I found myself highlighting many passages like, love and loss were part of the tapestry of life.

Some of Medea actions are a bit abrupt and doesn't make total sense which caused issues. The characters I liked the most was Atlanta and Melanion.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating retelling of several Greek myths; I can say without a doubt that this book left me with a lasting mark. Despite having a concept of where this story would go via mythology/lore knowledge; I found myself genuinely shocked more times than I can count. A healthy understanding of Greek history/myth is helpful going into The Witch and The Huntress, however one could make do without it! The intensity of the relationships throughout the book adds depth to Madea and Atlanta's characters: they are both allowed to love and grieve these people they have lost while finding a space designed solely for one another. I will admit that I am not often fond of point of view narrative changes (i.e. switching between third and first person narration dependent on the speaker), but in this case I find that it suits the characters entirely. Jason's perspective being in third person while Madea and Atlanta's are expressed via first person subtly strengthens his gradual detachment from the other main characters as well as his detachment from the story.

Overall, Atlanta and Madea's tale showcases the brilliance of queer love in all of the ways that count - he soft domesticity of grooming one another and the violence born of receiving (and removing) miasma itself.

[rebeccareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch and the Huntress is a sweeping sapphic retelling of Jason, Medea, and the Argonauts. As a lifelong lover of Greek mythology and big fan of sapphic fiction, this one was right up my alley!

The reimagining is rich and clearly well-researched, and brings vivid, full life to mythology that, while familiar and beloved, is very two-dimensional. In retelling the myths of women who seem to have existed primarily as receptacles for men’s big feelings, McNamara puts power back where it should be - in the hands of the famed witch and her huntress. Yet she doesn’t go full fairytale, and keeps her story grounded by the very real struggles these women would’ve faced. To that end, while I could’ve gone without Jason’s POV - and probably his whole character, but that’s just me and my sapphic tastes - I respect how McNamara wove him into the story and felt the conclusion was fully justified.

I do tend to prefer more subtlety in writing - here it’s pretty flowery and often relies on telling instead of showing, even in places where it would be very easy to avoid - but as far as reading qualms go, it's not too bothersome or distracting. I definitely recommend this title for fans of Greek mythology and sapphic fantasy alike!

[Zoey M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Psyche and Eros, and so I came in with high expectations for The Witch and the Huntress. I think a lot of the book was done well, and I did really enjoy the parts of the book following Medea and the Argonauts. I enjoyed the pace, and felt that the story was engaging. As the chapters progressed I became more invested in the characters.
About two-thirds of the way through, I felt that the story lost its way a little. The dialogue started to feel stilted, and it started to feel like I was forcing myself to keep reading. The pace was all over the place at the end of the book, and there were places where I had no idea how much time had passed or hadn't passed. It made it a lot harder to be engaged with the characters, and it also seemed that in some places the characters changed without much explanation into what had changed in their motivations or development. I think it's important to include Medea's whole story, but I think that more care needed to be taken towards the end of the book in order to stabilize the pace in comparison to the beginning.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Jj.Jadaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the eARC!

This was an OK, ultimately forgettable book. At first, I was very excited to read this book because I loved the idea of a sapphic relationship between the only female Argonauts-- Medea and Atalanta. I read Rosie Hewlett's Medea last year, which I loved; and I was eager to read another retelling of the Medea myth.

However, the book had too many POVs--- three, including Jason. This stopped me from becoming fully immersed in any of the three narratives, because I kept having to leave any time I got interested. They also all sounded similar; the narrative voices all sounded like each other.

Also, the relationships all felt surface level. Atalanta has a son, but I barely remember anything about their relationship. Medea has two kids with Jason, but we barely know anything about these kids. And finally, the romantic relationship between Medea and Atalanta didn't really convince me. I could buy that they felt attracted to each other. But Atalanta has a moral disgust over Medea's actions which is never resolved-- they just agree not to talk to each other about it.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that didn’t work for me on several levels. One, it’s so very, very heavy handed in it’s story telling, and it’s also very, very heavy handed in its telling. This is a book that doesn’t want you to miss the point, so it’ll repeat it again and again — and most of that point is about how hard it is to be a woman in a man’s world. And while it’s not a bad message … in this book, it’s a headache inducing one as I’m clobbered again and again and again with just how bad, weak, feckless, untrustworthy and awful men are.

Jason’s adventures should have been exciting. Medea and Atalanta should have been having a grand old time, flirting, fighting, falling in love … but it’s a quick burst of a scene and then on to the next and the next and the next in a frenetic road trip. The pace is fast but also … static? There’s no rise and fall, no sense of lulls or a ramping up of tension. It’s just a monotonous go-go-go-go that left me, honestly, bored.

This is a shallow retelling with a gorgeous cover. There will be people out there who love this book, and I’m glad for them. I’m just not able to join them in their enjoyment. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch and the Huntress is a commendable addition to the relatively recent trend of mythological retellings, viewing the story from the central female characters' points of view. Mythology, throughout time has been in step with history, which has long been HIS-story and burying any significant notable women into the footnotes of the telling. Most of the tales of the adventures of the Argonauts downplay any contributions of Medea or paint her as the biggest villain, but now we have a story that turns the tables. We do not stray entirely into female points of view here since the author gives Jason a voice in addition to Medea and Atalanta but this reimagining goes a long way to balancing the scales. Nor does the author automatically paint Medea as a flawless hero (as some past versions have glorified Jason), but we see her perspective in a brighter light. The story is told well and makes for an enjoyable read especially for anyone who enjoys Greek mythology.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Birdie.Recommends · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and I’m usually all in for a Greek mythology retelling. Unfortunately, this one didn’t fully work for me.

The biggest struggle was the sheer number of names, references, and characters introduced. Instead of enriching the world, it bogged the story down and made it hard to stay immersed—or motivated to keep going.

That said, I did appreciate the reimagining of the LGBTQIA+ storyline. That element was thoughtfully handled and felt purposeful rather than performative, which was a definite strength.

Overall, a promising concept with moments that worked, but the execution made it a tougher read than I expected.

Read if you like:
• Myth retellings with darker tones
• Queer reinterpretations of classic stories
• Complex, reference-heavy worldbuilding

Skip if:
• You struggle with dense casts and mythology overload
• You prefer a tighter, more streamlined narrative

Thank you to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for an ARC. All opinion are my own.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

".... they'll relegate us to the sidelines, as always happens with women. I'll go down in history as nothing but Jason's wife, and you, as an ordinary huntress. No one will ever know what we had. It's all a waste."

A retelling of the Argonauts and their adventures but put the focus on Atalanta and Medea and make it sapphic!? YES, PLEASE! This retelling did a wonderful job of balancing adventure, loss, love and surviving at all costs. We all know the tales of Medea and Atalanta, and it was nice to see the twists and turns McNamara gave their tales, The love story felt so authentic and never rushed or forced.

I absolutely loved what McNamara did with Psyche and Eros and I think she has done it again with showing just how useless Jason is and the QUEENS that Medea and Atalanta truly are. With every retelling I read I always have the hope that the females in the stories will finally get their moments to shine through and so far, I have not been disappointed yet.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

While this book is meant for an adult audience, it feels much more YA. For most of the book the characters are mid-20s or older, yet they still act and talk like teenagers. This could be explained due to their backgrounds, but it is still a bit off putting.

The story itself is pretty good, though it doesn't follow the myth as it is commonly known very well. This is fine for me, especially as the author includes sources she drew from at the end that could explain that. What was annoying is that it's marketed as a sapphic love story between Atalanta and Medea. Upon reaching the end of the book, however, all I could say was "that's it?"

Overall, as someone mostly familiar with the myths through retellings, this book felt more like fanfiction with lofty goals it failed to meet. It was still pretty good, and definitely fun to read once, but there are better retelling out there.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I enjoyed this unique retelling. I've seen an influx of Medea re-tellings in the past few years, but I found this one to be distinct and intriguing in the way that things were changed. Overall, I would probably recommend this for fans of mythology. Detailed thoughts below.

Things I liked:
- The re-imagining of the story and the changes to Medea's character (but not all the changes)
- The breadth of myths covered
- The world building and general writing style
- The characters and development of Atalanta and Medea

Things I didn't like:
- The characters were slightly inconsistent because of the changes. When Medea is truly evil in a myth, it's very easy to understand her actions; when she's painted differently, the "evil" things she does seem even more out of character.
- I didn't really need Jason's POV; I think it would have been stronger to just focus on Atalanta and Medea
- The pacing wasn't totally even, there were parts that I struggled to keep reading but other parts I flew through
- The occasional slip into "modern" speak (few and far in between, but noticeable when it happened)

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ Mythology | LGBTQ+ | Fantasy

Thank you, William Morrow, for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Witch and the Huntress is a beautifully written, myth-inspired story told through three different points of view: Jason, leader of the Argonauts; Medea, a witch and daughter of Hekate; and Atalanta, who was raised by bears. Split into four parts, the book explores love, loss, and sacrifice with a strong emotional core and vivid imagery.

The story includes clear LGBTQ+ representation, with Melanion (they/them) standing out as a caring, compassionate presence amid more traditionally masculine characters. Along with the relationships.

Despite having three central figures, a wide cast of mythological and original characters is introduced throughout the journey, making the world feel expansive and layered.

While there are moments of warmth and lightness, the tone leans toward struggle and endurance. The writing is deeply visual, I found myself highlighting many passages like, "love and loss were part of the tapestry of life."

Some of Medea actions are a bit abrupt and doesn't make total sense which caused issues. The characters I liked the most was Atlanta and Melanion.